Symptoms: Tall, thin stature ~ Long fingers ~ Unusually long arms and legs ~
Curvature of the spine Chest bone that curves inward or outward ~ Flat feet or high arches ~ Nearsightedness Weakening of the connective tissue, most dangerously of the aorta
Site created & updated by Jeanette NaviaBooks of Interest
Chicken
Soup for the Fisherman's Soul Jennie Logsdon Martin has a story in here. Her story is as much about living with the Marfan
syndrome as it is about fishing.
Own Your Health
Roanne Weisman and her son have Marfan, and in some sections of the book they share their experiences. Amazon.com
The Truth About Chronic Pain
A whole chapter is about Mathew Rudes' experiences. Mathew was born with severe Marfan symptoms.
Marfan Blog
(news stories, events, newly discovered links)
Saturday, July 24, 2004
MarfMan returns! Posted at
10:29 AM Remember MarfMan from last year's Blogathon? He's back! This year as a star of his own comic book covers! Here's volume no. 1 cover
The first issue of MarfMan explains how he got his powers and follows him as he grows up, and finally decides that he has to use his powers for good, instead of simply being apathetic like everyone else. MarfMan does not gain his powers from solar rays, he was not bitten by any rabid animals, and radiation, amazingly enough, plays no part in his abilities. Instead, MarfMan was born with all his abilities. He lived for thirteen years simply as Tim Tallman, his super powers laying mostly dormant within him. There were a few sneak peeks over the years: He was always the tallest kid in his class, he got thick glasses early on, and he had a chest that everyone at the pool pointed and laughed at. It was not until a visit to an observant doctor on an unrelated and embarrassing matter shortly after his thirteenth birthday that his true identity was revealed. "How tall are you?" the doctor asked as the examination was concluding. The doctor took a quick look at Tim's hands and proclaimed, "I think you might have the Marfan Syndrome!" It was at that moment that Tim Tallman became MarfMan. Tim used the powers of MarfMan largely for selfish gain for several years. He placed items on the top shelf of bookcases, so only he could reach them. He used his heart condition as a way to get out of gym class. And he used the excuse of bad eyesight to claim the prime learning location of the front of the classroom, much to the dismay of the students seated behind him. Then, on a cross country flight in his early twenties, he found that he could not sit down in the coach seat he was assigned. His leg room was missing. "This goes beyond just me," he thought. "I have to do something about this." He asked the flight attendant what happened to the seats, and she proudly replied that the airline had recently upgraded its seating, adding 32% more capacity per flight. MarfMan folded himself into his seat and noticed a manufacturer's label on the armrest. "Shortov Industrial" "I will let them know of my displeasure," he said. As soon as he got off the flight and worked the kinks out of his legs, he began to organize a letter writing campaign and Internet petition to restore the leg room to cross country flights. Little did he know at the time that his actions would result only in the creation of a mortal enemy. The CEO of Shortov Industrial was the 4'6" Baron von Shortov. As a result of childhood teasing and rabid jealously of anyone that can hang a picture on a wall without needing a chair, the Baron has dedicated his life to making anyone over a foot taller than he is absolutely miserable. MarfMan and the Baron would certainly meet again...
